The Righteous Gemstones Review: Wicked Lips (Season 1 Episode 4)
E-mails, temptation, and car pranks prove quite the eventful day for the Gemstones on The Righteous Gemstones Season 1 Episode 4, “Wicked Lips.”
Temptation appears to be the largest factor for a lot of The Righteous Gemstones characters, from money, to sliding back to old ways, to infidelity; they all come with a level of temptation for everyone. Some are better at hiding it than others, but the mask of fake honesty is starting to come undone.
photo: Ryan Green/HBO
Keefe getting a little more of a frontline role makes for some beautiful awkwardness. Keefe has this Kato Kaelin kind of vibe to him, Tony Cavalero able to create this kind soul whose bizarre past of devil worship comes as a question not of its validity, but what is considered devil worship to the Gemstones.
Kelvin’s determination of what he considers the devil’s pull during the scene at the Nancy household appears to be anything he doesn’t deem worthy of God (which, by the way he’s tearing everything down, is anything at all). It puts into question whether Keefe’s relationship to his old friends is really that bad; they have really impressive dance moves for bad influences, and a neat alternative fashion sense.
The old friends even help them escape during the party raid. But the whole sequence is to show how much Kelvin cares about those he wishes to save; or, at least, how much he cares to save people in order to impress his father.
Kelvin and Keefe make for a grand team, simple but effective as a bumbling buddy cop evangelist duo. Adam DeVine’s ever-changing expressions as he witnesses the debauchery on display as he crosses through the party is the highlight of the scene, though.
photo: Ryan Green/HBO
The e-mail fiasco comes as the major source of comedy on the episode. Jesse’s posse are completely clueless, and so their every bumble and screw-up becomes this wonderful mess for Jesse to shout about, something Danny McBride is unrivaled at. The specificity and explicitness of the e-mails are gold by themselves, especially when read in such a monotone manner by Mandy.
It’s all set-up for Amber to realize she doesn’t truly know Jesse as well as she hoped, after spending the entire episode defending him. The car pranks, cover for chasing down Scotty and Gideon in the van from the blackmail on The Righteous Gemstones Season 1 Episode 1, “The Righteous Gemstones,” and Jesse’s need for a gun after the crash, is enough of a sign that all Amber’s been protecting is a sham.
With how Amber handles that gun obstacle course, she does not look to be one to get on the bad side of.
photo: Ryan Green/HBO
It has been hinted at beforehand, with Judy’s squirreled away money and a quick flash of the donations before, but on this episode we finally get a massive unveiling of the insurmountable amount of cash flowing through the church. The amount of avenues and the massive vault shows the Gemstones are a complete empire, and that Gideon and Scotty are far over their heads if they expect to pull a heist off.
The Righteous Gemstones Season 1 Episode 4, “Wicked Lips,” is a wake-up call for Amber, and gives supporting players like Cassidy Freeman and Tony Cavalero some time in the spotlight to great effect. The show is getting better with balancing its sizeable cast, giving each a moment to shine on the episode while commenting on how stretching the truth so thin will inevitably cause it to snap.
What did you think of this episode of The Righteous Gemstones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
The Righteous Gemstones airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.